Computer stores in my town

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two slow
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Computer stores in my town

Post by two slow »

I need AS and didn't feel like waiting for an online store to deliver it, so I called 1 of the two places in town that would have some.
The first place I talked to the receptionest. She had no idea what I was talking about so she connected me with one of their techs. I told him what I wanted and heres what he told me"we just use those little thingys that come on the heatsinks." I said"thermal pads." He said "is that what those are called?"
After that I figured it would be better to go to the other place. Again a receptionest, "what would you need something like that for" The tech I talked to there said they had 1 tube of AS3, but that was theirs to use.
And prices were crazy. I seen a Lite On 16xdvd for $138. It was oem. And a Lite on 40x burner was $168 oem.
Needless to say I still don't have any compond.
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FlyingPenguin
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Post by FlyingPenguin »

Just order a tube from NewEgg or KDC. 3 gram tube will set you back around $12 with shipping at either place (the OEM stuff at NewEgg is a bit cheaper because it has free shipping but it's out of stock right now).

Might not sound like it, but 3 grams is a LOT - you'll never use it all unless you plan on building computers for a living. You only use a blob the size of a rice grain and spread it evenly with a credit card.
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dadx2mj
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Post by dadx2mj »

There are 3 little mom and pop type computer stores within 3 blocks of my house. It is beyond me how they stay in business. Their prices are wildly unpredictable. One guy has a 16x no name DVD drive he wants $263 for. I have a hard time thinking anyone with enough smarts to install it would be dumb enough to pay that for it. Needless to say I buy 99.9% of my computer stuff online.
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Post by nexus_7 »

the Only time I have ever been i nany of my local shops is to pass out flyers for the PCALAN. they are so pathetic it is a waist of time.

Sure, Ill spend the hour in the car to drive over to KDC or something where there are fun people to talk to that are up on the present PC stuff and have toys but thats about it.

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Post by Pugsley »

Well out here whe have this place called Johns industreal surplus. Not much as far as new stuff goes. but if you need stuff in the 400- speed range he will have it. Also he gets alot of "toys" that the public just cant go out and buy. Right now he has some CD towers for $500. just hook power and a cat5 and its all set to go! like 14 drives.
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Fu Manchu
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Re: Computer stores in my town

Post by Fu Manchu »

Originally posted by two slow
And prices were crazy. I seen a Lite On 16xdvd for $138. It was oem.

lol .. newegg has them for 38bux lol
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wvjohn
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Post by wvjohn »

kinda the same deal hereabouts - although there is one store in martinsburg that carries fans, connectors, etc.

there is a "pc liquidators" next door which is really fix it in the garage operation with a storefront. the guys are pretty nice though - i was in there today and the owner was bitching because people won't spend $700 for a 2.0 p4 system - they all want to buy the $149/166 mmx special w/ 30 day warranty -

they did however complain to one of the cable co. techs was in looking for parts last week about line speed and quality - he went around back and fiddled soemthing and we've been pulling close to 1 mbps since :)

i really don't know how the little guys survive- nowadays when people ask me to help them with a system build unless they are a hobbyist i simply send them to the compgeek refurbs w/warranty
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honz
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nooooooooooooo!

Post by honz »

if u want some cheap compound, goto 1coolpc.com i jus ordered some AS alumna, a XP shim and a few other accesseries, was like 14 total. they got some deal where the compound is shipped free 2nd day or first class priority. got mine in like 2 days =)
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FlyingPenguin
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Post by FlyingPenguin »

You can't blame the mom & pops - they can't make money. They don't buy in large enough quantities to get discounts. Also if they buy their stuff OEM then they have to support the warranty themselves (that can get expensive).

The exception is a big export town like Miami or New York. Only thing I loved about living in Miami, there's litterally HUNDREDS of export computer parts warehouses by the airport (mostly catering to South America) and you can get parts as cheap as mail order.

If a mom & pop tries to overcharge you in Miami, you know the bastard is screwing you.

The mom & pop places generally don't make money on parts - not unless you need something replaced and you can't do it yourself. Their bread and butter is labor.

Same with me - I only make money on labor. I will not sell new parts, I will buy them and then give the client a petty cash requisition with the receipt and they pay me back. I make my money on the labor and I'm up front about it. That way I can't be accused of trying to sell someone something they don't need. I also don't want the hassle of having to support the warranty.
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